“You dial 911, and then you get out of there. You want to stay, to make sure they are all right, but you really can’t because the cops come, and the next thing you know you are getting arrested.” That’s what a drug user who lives in a tent near Camden said recently about a new bill in New Jersey that would grant immunity to those who call 911 for an overdose. Researchers have found that up to half of overdoses go unreported out of fear of the police.

In the United States, accidental drug deaths have doubled in the past year. The new bill is just concerned with “saving lives,” according to Robert Garcia, the sheriff of Santa Fe County in New Mexico (which passed a similar bill in 2007). The new bill would also enable drug addicts to get treatment and recover from their addictions. In a state that sees increasing rates of drug abuse and overdoses, this bill is an important new step in treating drug users—who do suffer from the disease of physical dependence—instead of punishing them as criminals.

If you think you or a loved one has drug problems, don’t wait for the overdose. Thankfully there are many excellent treatment plans available for dependence. Medications and cognitive-behavioral therapy have proven to be effective in treating drug problems. Addicts are often unable to cope with treatment on their own, or even with family members’ help, so it’s very important to find the right treatment center. At Seabrook House ™, our treatment plans are customized to meet each individual patient’s needs, so you can rest assured that you’ll be getting the right remedy for yourself or for a loved one. Seabrook House ™ has rehabilitation centers in New Jersey (NJ), Pennsylvania (PA), and an outpatient center in New York (NY). Contact Seabrook House ™ today for any questions about drugs, addiction, and treatment.